Saturday, September 30, 2017

Surat: Devotees from the areas located near the airport performed garba outside the terminal building when they were not allowed to enter to perform puja at the small temple or mata ki deri situated in the corner of the runway on Friday.
Sources said that the people from nearby areas including Magdalla and Bhimpore villages have been following the tradition of performing puja at the mata ki deri inside the airport terminal from the last many decades during the eighth day of Navratri. The villagers had gone for the puja at the deri on Thursday and that they were not allowed to enter the terminal building by the airport staff.
However, the villagers again went to the airport on Friday for performing the religious rites at the temple. The villagers were not allowed inside the airport premises and were made to sit outside for more than two hours. After that, they were allowed the entry into the airport premises, but were prevented from entering the terminal building.
The angry villagers started the garba outside the terminal building to mark protest against the airport authorities.
29/09/17 Melvyn Reggie/Times of India